Americans travel for food. In a recent American Express survey, 81% of respondents said the thing they most look forward to when traveling is trying local cuisine. Whether you’re chowing down on a roadside taco in Mexico City, slurping a bowl of ramen in Tokyo, or biting into a steaming bowl of pasta in Rome, food can often make or break a travel experience.
To help you make the most of your next trip abroad, we asked top chefs from around the world for their best tips and advice on eating abroad.
Ask the locals where to go.
Who knows the best restaurants in a city better than the people who live there? The concierge at your hotel is always a good place to start, but make it clear that you’re looking for places frequented by locals, not tourists.
Natsuko Shoji, owner and chef of Michelin-starred restaurant Été in Tokyo, said: “It’s OK to look for the first restaurant in the guide or rankings and then ask the chef where he or she goes. After the long hours of work, locals crave the real local flavors.”
Walk outside the city center for a meal.
Even if your accommodation is in the middle of the city, the best meals can often be found in the surrounding neighborhoods.
Garry Hughes, head chef at The Shelbourne, a luxury hotel in Dublin, said: “I try to find out if locals eat there and if it’s difficult to get a table then I know it’s a good place. Then I do a quick Google search to find reviews and pictures of the food as everyone has different opinions and expectations.”
Eat street food.
The best dishes in a country or city can often be found on the side of the road. When chef Wolfgang Puck travels, he looks forward to trying the local street food first.
“I always try to find the small, hidden places with delicious food and unique experiences. That can often be street food,” he said. “You have to have new experiences, including dishes you may never have tried before. That’s what traveling is all about.”
Don’t judge a book by its cover.
Perhaps the best thing about traveling is experiencing new things, especially when it comes to food, so be brave and order something that’s completely new to you.
Stephanie Boswell, co-host of “Next Baking Master: Paris” on Food Network, said, “Don’t be afraid to not like something. It’s better to try something and not like it than never to try it. Imagine never trying chocolate ice cream because it doesn’t look pretty.”
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Do your own research.
Travelers spend hours studying Google Maps or the latest Eater list to create the perfect culinary itinerary. Michelin-starred chef and cookbook author Nancy Silverton agrees with this method.
She also suggests: “Ask people you trust who have been to the country before where they like to eat. If you’re going somewhere no one you know has ever been, you just have to make the effort to find the best local places.”
Don’t rely on social media.
“Just because someone with 100,000 followers says a place is good doesn’t mean you’ll like it. That’s not you,” said Andy Rickera traveler, author and cook from Thailand.
Of course, influencers can spark divine food inspiration, but take their recommendations with a grain of salt. “Instead, look for places where locals are, even if you have to say your order in sign language,” Ricker said. “In general, if a restaurant is frequented by locals, the food is reliable, delicious, inexpensive and clean.”
Take risks.
Instead of always trusting the guidebooks or the hottest new restaurants, get off the beaten path and find something different. “Most of the time, you will find a wonderful restaurant that appreciates your business,” said Edward Lee, the chef and owner of 610 Magnolia in Louisville, Kentucky.
“If you rely solely on the recommendations of popular guidebooks, you’ll end up in a restaurant that may be good, but is otherwise crowded, expensive, trendy (and not always in a good way) and full of tourists who have been looking for restaurants in the same guidebook as you,” he said.
Be prepared when trying new dishes.
Not all foods are suitable for every palate, and that’s OK. Restaurateur, chef and TV presenter Michelle Bernstein said, “When trying a dish you’ve never tried before, take small bites and make sure you have a bottle of water and Pepto with you!”
But her most important advice is: “Be kind and grateful to those who serve you your food. You don’t have to eat everything, but try everything if you can.”
Embrace diversity.
If you want to try a new style of cuisine while on the go, says: “Order a variety of dishes and don’t pin your expectations on one dish. This way you can find out what you really like (or don’t like).”
He also recommends trying famous local dishes and stepping out of your comfort zone. “Make sure you have a few options in mind so you don’t miss out on the experience.”
Listen to your gut feeling.
If you are particularly adventurous, Bali-based chef Will Goldfarb of Room4Dessert suggests: “Walk aimlessly through dark alleys and corners, preferably on or near the water. Look for something delicious that smells like adventure.”
When you find the right restaurant, you’ll know it. “I just walk until I find a place that feels special in the moment, a moment that can only happen when you travel to a foreign country,” he said. “Sometimes I find the best places, rarely the worst, but always something magical, memorable and unexpected.”
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Don’t always assume that award-winning food is the best.
Of course, Michelin-starred restaurants are celebrated for a reason. Eating at one usually means extremely high-quality food and outstanding service, but don’t be discouraged if you can’t get a reservation at a restaurant while abroad.
Olivier da Costa, owner of Olivier Restaurant Groupsaid: “Prioritize authentic dining experiences rather than following restaurant hype. Eating out should be about enjoying good food and good company.”
Book economically.
If a particular restaurant is at the top of your list, it is always a good idea to make reservations in advance. But Ashley Christensen, chef and owner of AC Restaurants in North Carolina, says you shouldn’t book all meals in advance.
“I like to make reservations for a few of my meals, usually at places I’ve read about or heard about from trusted friends,” she said. “From there, I like to get a feel for the place and find places that may not have made the headlines.”
The most important thing is to be open.
Keeping an open mind when travelling is probably as important as packing your passport. Peter Cường Franklin is the Michelin-starred chef and founder of Saigon Show on map And Pot Au Phở in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
“I think the biggest mistake is not being open to new food and new experiences when visiting a new country,” he said. “For example, it makes me sad when travelers visit Vietnam and spend a lot of money on flights and hotel accommodation, but limit their dining experience to a preconceived idea of Vietnam with cheap street food like pho and banh mi.”
